Pneumatic lift pump



Sept. 17, 1929.

P. K. woon 1,728,193

PNEUMATIC LIFT PUMP Sept. 17, A1929. P, K WOOD 1,728,193

' PNEUMATICI LIFT PUMP Filed May 3, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z 4561 45'/ g 7/ l'l j v4,2- Cfl,

l l y 1 I- f 474vi E I -l 4877 i-: il HLi f2 i i 1 a 2 i I l 48 /4 1v J J 45 I V l l J 36- j 37 5 I INI/ENTOR, P/,Wa/z BY A ORNEY Patenten sept. 17, 1929. i l1,728,193

UNIT-En STATES y`Pn'llszvlw owFFIcE PNEUMATIG LIFT PUMP Application led May 3, 1,926.l Serial No. 106,399. I i

This invention relates to air motive pumps nipple 7 surrounding a set of down-closing and-has for an object to provide an autovalves 8 in cages 9 at outlets 10 in the top j matic mechanism intermittently admitting of the plug Y6. A. retainer 10 holds down air or gaseous Huid under pressure to act on the cages 9 and limits movement of the and force up liquid ina well or other convalves 8. 55 tainer.. I p Secured on the lower contracted end of L An object is to provide a- .pneumatic lift the hollow plug 6 is a leg-pipe 12 which l system including a submersible, liquid checkU extends nearly to the retainer 5 and is open valvel barrel and'to provide a surface, conthereat for entrance of liquid entering by 10 trol means for supplying controlled air presvalves 3. Motive fluid air is led down to 60 sure to dual ain-ram chambers in 'the barrel. l plug 6 by a 6central feed tube 13 tapped into Another object is to provide means for a distributin chamber 14 havingcross-pasautomatically throwing. ,air exhaustedfrom sageways 15 1n arms in the chamber of the the air-ram chambers to ,either the low or plug 6. Inl operation fluid pressure passes 15 the high 4.sta es of an air' compressor. down the tube 13 and accumulates as a pneu- 65 Further o jects and advantages will be matic piston ram or body on thel liquid in made manifest inthe ensuing, specification the boot chamber 2a so that the liquid is of apparatus embodying the'improvements; )forced up into leg-pipe 12 and thence past it being understood that variations, modifivalves 8. -As a given degree of pressure is cations and adaptations may be resorted to achieved a control means automatically re- 70 Fig.

within the'scope and spirit of the invenverses and the lmotive Huid is exhausted tion as vit is here claimed. from boot 2 through tube 13. This occurs Figure 1 lis a general diagram of apparabefore the liquid fallsbelow the bottom of tus of the invention; parts being in section. leg-pipe 12 (see Fig. 3). When, or as, the

25 Figure 2 is a' cross-section'on line 2-2 of pressure in boot 2 falls below static pres- 75 Fig. 1.` y sure against valves 3 liquid will rise past Figure "3f is a central, lon ltudilnal secthese valves. tlon of the submersible pump arrel. Liquid passing, under ,motive pressure, up

Figure 4 is a' cross-section on line 4 4 of' leg-pipe 12 flows up past valves 8 and thence i up in a discharge joint 15 which is attached 80 Figure 5 iS a vcross-section on line 5 5 of to a valve housing 16 which closes the nip- Fig- 3- i .v ple I7. The housing 16 has a head 17 pro- Figlll'e 6 iS a CQIGSS-SGCOII 011 lille 6--6 0f vided with a series of alternated inlet seats Ilg-'- n, 18 for inlet valves 19 allowing inflow from Figlle 7 is a ,centrahlongitudinal Section outside ports 20, and outlet seats 21 for out` 85 of the auxiliary air control means regulatlet `valves 22. These valves 19'22 control ing air `to the compressorfrom the pump. flow to and from a pneumatic fluid-pis- Figure 8 is a cross-.section of a selective ton chamber surrounding the joint 15 and valve seat for changing effective pressure^in /inside a 'shell section 23 secured to the 40 thecontrol means of Fig. 7. f r head 17. This head 17 .has a central pas- 90 In this specification motive-fluid and sageway 17 connecting with the chamber in ,luid mean air or'gas employed as the `niprple 7.

pressure medium or airfram v`(or` piston), Section 23 is closed at the top 4by'a hollow and liquid means the substance to be motive fluid drum 25 having ports 26 open f forced out of the pum Abarrel by thefluid. to the section chamber 23 and having a 95 Submerged in a'wel or containerC is a motive fluid supply (and exhaust) .tube 27 boot 2 having a set of down-closingcheck which extends up along side tube 13 to .the valves 3 in cages 4 under a retainer 5. The top of the well -(in such an installation). upper end of the boot `2 is attached to a h0l- Hence, the pump, thus far described, convlow plug 6 from which extends upwardly a sists of a barrel havingan upper air cham- 100 wber 23 land a separate air chamber 2a, independently supplied with, and exhausted. of, motive Huid.

Liquid discharged past valves 22 enters the common discharge passageway 17 a and llows from this to the joint 15 which outlets` above the drum v25 into a reducer 30 connecting with a standpipe 31 running to the top of the well and enclosing the luid tubes 13-27. v

The pump thus far described is in the general form of a barrel to be bodily lowered into a well or any container of, liquid Ato be pumped.

The .surface eguz'pment i groove 40.

The feed pipe 35 leads into an elongated `passageway 41 having an upper cross-port 42 to register with piston port 39, when piston is up, and a lower cross-port 43 to register with piston port 40, when the piston is down.

lVhen the piston is up air ilows from port l 42 to a channel 42a which leads to a top seat 45 for the piston. Seat 45 has a port 45a closed by the upper convergent end of piston 38 so that a smaller or differential area of pressure is formed at the head of the seated piston.

)Vhen the piston is down motive air ilows from ports 43 and 40 to a channel 43a which leads to a bottom-seat 46 for the lower tapered end, of the piston 38, which then closes a reduced area port 46a, thus giving a differential action'on the piston.

To channel 43 is connected air tube 13, and to channel 42a is connected air tube 27 (Fig. 1). y Y

The length of the body of the piston valve 38, between ports 39 and 40 is such that when the piston is'up it covers a transfer port 44 from channel 42a while the port 40 is uncovering a transfer-port 45 from channel 43a. Ports 44-45 lead into a common duct -47 2 and 7 having a pipe connection 47a leading to the intake means of the compressor IVhen the compressor is of multistage type I provide an auxiliary air line, intake control 50.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a means for controlling and regulating the time of Vshift ofthe piston. f f

This means includesa pair ofy variablepressure, yieldable bolts 48-48a which alternately snap into a recess 49 therefor in and around the body of the piston when the latter is shifted to its limits either way, endwise.

The auxiliary control includes a casing 50, bushed at 51, and having a piston valve 52 with a cross-port 53 which, in lower position, registers With a diversion port 54 from a chamber 55 to an outlet 5 6 from which leads air-line 47b to low pressure stage intake of the compressor A. f

In its lower position piston 52 closes a port-seat 57 of a diversion port 58 leading from chamber 55 to an outlet 59 from which an airline 60 leads to high stage intake of compressor A. The pipe 47a leads to the common chamber 55.

Piston valve 52 is subjected to downward pressure of a spring 61 acting against air pressure on the lower end of the valve 52. A suitable regulating or friction device is provided to hold the valve in upper position until a predetermined low pressure is present under the piston, at which time the inaster spring 61 will overcome action of the `piston device and the valve will be thrust down. The device here includes a spring 62 acting against af ball-bolt 63 which will seat in a recess 64 in and around the piston valve. Then air pressure is sufficient against the lower end of piston 52 this is thrust up .to a stop collar 65 at which time the ball-bolt 63 snaps into its seat recess 64.

The operation The two Ipump chambers 2a and' 23 are designed to have the samel water capacity and therefore the same volumeland body of motive fluid can be rotatively circulated between the compressor and (alternately) the respective air spaces above the water in the A chambers 2? and 23. Hence while air pressure is building up .in one chamber and act' ing to expel the water therefrom the other chamber is being exhausted down to atmospheric (or less if desired). In the position of piston 38, Fig. 1, the piston has been forcedup and is latched by bolt 48 Fig. 7, and is seated on seat 45 and is presenting a reduced head area to Apressure in port 45a while the lower end of the valve is fully exposed to lower pressure through open port 46a. `In such position the compressor is receiving or pulling air from chamber 2a,

roV

tube13 to port 45, to duct 47, line 47a, regulator 50, and by line 475 or 60, and is returning it byline B, to receiver C, pipe 35, channel 41,p0rts 39-42, thence to tube 27, and chamber 23.`

The pressure in chamber 23 is driving liq uid past valves 22 and joint 15 and discharge pipe 31 (valves 19` and 8v being closed). At this time air is escaping or being pulled from chamber 2a to tube 13 and liquid is rising past valves 3, (Fig. 3).

As soon as ressure fluid, atwport 45, is sufficient, on t e reduced area of the piston head, to,over.come the pressure of ,bolt 48 the piston 38 will be forced downward. This action increases the head area of the piston as soon as it leaves the valve seat or ring 45, and the increased effective area insures the full down shift of the piston until l it bottoms on the differential port seat'46.

varied by screws 48".

y3. The reverslng operation of the `differential area .v alve seats -46, a series of these is provided the several seats having different sizes of ports, as indicated by the differential seat45b, Fig. 8. The pressurel of the spring bolts 48---48a may be readily Should it happen thatv any material -degree of pressure is present in the escape line 47a (from the valve 38) it is desirable to divert this motive luid to the high stage side of the compressor A. This is auto` matically accomplished by the diverting reg ulator or control device 50. By means'of the spring 61",I after it breaks holding action of friction ball 63and the pressure ef# fective on the exposed lower end of piston 52, the pistonfis held down and fluid passes ports 54-53-56 to the low stage line 471/ But when master valve 38 shifts and4 throws the high pressure into lline 47a (from chamber 2a or 23') then this pressure is instantly effective on the unbalanced end of piston valve 52 and vthis overcomes spring 6l and port 59 is uncovered.. When the piston 52 strikes stop 65 the friction ball 63 has snapped vrinto recess 64 and while 'pressure is falling in line 60 (to the high stage) the piston cannot shift untilJ spring 6l overcomes the friction ball and remaining pressure on the lower end of the piston.

The advantage of this is t'o throw air to high stage of compressorwithout passing it through the low stage, thus conserving pow; f

er, and preventing overloading of thecompressor motor.

l. A pump system having, in combination, a submersible barrel including independent, plural air chambers, liquid inlet valves fer said chambers, liquid outlet valves for sald chambers, a common liquid outlet condult means forandj interposed between the fbarrel chambers,and means for creating motiye fluid pressure in the chambers to expel hquld therefrom, and for exhausting the `motive Huid frbm the chambers in intermittent cyclesland including avalve having each end said provided with differential area means for reaction of the motive fluid, motive fluid lines from said chambers to'said valve ends, and means retarding shift ofthe valve and which is overcome by fluid pressure on said ends."

2. In a pneumatic-ram pump, a lower liquid inlet chamber and an upper liquid inlet chamber, a common liquid outlet nipple coaxially connecting the chambers, a discharge' conduit leading axially from the nipple through the'upper chamber, valved outlets from the chambers to the nipple, and separate air feeders to the chambers, one of which extends axially to the nipple.

3. In a pneumatic-ram pump, a lower liquid chamber' and an upper liquid chamber each having liquid inlet means, a common/ liquid outlet nipple connecting the chambers,

a discharge conduit leading from the nipple, valved outlets from the chambers to the nipple,

gere; said feeders being enclosed in the conu1 n 4. In a pneumatic-ram pump, an upper y liquid intake chambe`r, ailower liquid-intake anlntcrmedlate nipple connecting chamber, said chambers for common discharge, valves for dischargeflow from the chambers to the nipple, I extending down coaxially through the upper chamberand connecting to the nipple, an air distributing head belowthe nipple and having acoaXial leg-pipe? for discharge from the lower chamber'to 'the nipple, and air feedersjto l.the chambers. l

5. elastic fluid motive system, for

:1 -'discharge conduit having a partI and separate .air feeders to the champumping a; liquid, including a submersible pump hemifn ,"'a discharge means for liquid superplosed fluid'chamb'ers each having liquid inlet valve means and outlet valve means, independent means for leading motive fluid to and from each chamber, means operative by the motive fluid for controlling the action of the motive fluid in said chambers, and. a retaining 'adjustable spring'device governing the control means. i

6. An .i elastic fluid motive system, for

pumping a liquid, including a set of upper]` `and lower air chambers, a set of liquid inlet and outlet mon liquid discharge means` from thcchambers, means thereintosupply motive fluid to chambers, and a means operative by the motive fluid for, controlling action of the fluid on liquid f in chambers, ysaid* control means including a piston .valve and acharnber therefor having connection with-the 'fluid supply means for. fluid action jon'opposite --ends of the piston; said piston havingva body groove, and a spring device' engaging the 'piston to restrain it and seating in thev groove.

7. An elastlc fluid motlve system, for

pumping a liquid, including a stof superim;

A posed, associated air chambers, a'sdtofliqvalves for each chamber, a com uid inlet and outlet valves for eachichamber, a common liquid discharge means from the chambers, separate motive fluid conduits for the chambers, and a means operative by the motive iuid for' controlling action of the fluid on Iliquid in said chambers; said control means providing for supply of motive fluid to' saidV chambers and its flow therefrom said control means including a piston and its chamber, said conduits connected to the chamber for exhaust thereto and supply therefrom and orxluid action on the ends valves opening thereto from each chamber,

of the piston.

8. An elastic Huid motive system, for pumping a liquid, including dual air chambers, a set of liquid inlet and outlet valves for each chamber, a common liquid ydischarge means from the chambers, separate motive fluid conduits to the chambers, a means operative by the motive fluid for controlling action of the fluid on liquid in chambers, and

compressing and exhausting means, for the and a dischargefpipe leading" from the coupling chamber up through the upper chamber, and liquid inletv valves at the bottoms of the air chambers.

10. In a pneumatic -pump, in combination, an, upper air chamber and a lower air chamber, a coupling connecting the-chambers and j having valves opening thereto from each chamber, and a discharge pipe leading from the coupling chamber up through 'the upper v chamber, liquid inlet valves at the bottoms of the air chambers, the chambers having each,

` `a pipe foi* the alternate supply and eduction of motive fluid, and control means including a piston valve which 'is operatively controlled by Huid pressure inthe said supply and eduction pipes and a 'pressure supply line,

.said control means being interposed between said line and l'the pipes to control pressure fluid i'low to the air chambers. l

l1.v In an automatic pneumatic pump, a plurality of sunkenA airV chambers having liquid inlets, a master piston valve and its casing, a fluid supply passage to said casing, fluid conduits in the ends of the casing to the piston valve ends, independent pipe lines from the conduits to respective air\ chambers for supply and eduction of fluid,

and means reacting on the piston valve to retain it momentarily while air pressure is accumulating on one or the other ends of the piston valve from one air chamber, said' piston valve having differential end areas for reaction of the iuid pressure.

PRESTON WOOD. 

